Takashi Murakami has a childlike energy that only comes with age and wisdom. Part mad genius, part inquisitive child, this prolific artist is one of the most famous names in the field. Then, in January, his long-awaited collaboration with Louis Vuitton hit stores, making him one of the biggest names in the fashion world.
In retrospect, the first collaboration between the artist and the leather goods brand in spring 2003 was a pivotal moment. It heralded the infiltration of high fashion into every part of pop culture, blurring the lines between creativity and commerce that still define the industry today. The smiling flowers and cartoon creatures sprinkled across the brand’s monogrammed bags were born at a time when such collaborations were at the cutting edge, and before “cute” entered the mainstream fashion lexicon.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
“I really didn’t know anything about fashion at the time,” he tells Vogue over a video call from his huge warehouse-like studio in Saitama, just north of Tokyo. Staff are milling around at the back of the studio. “I remember visiting the Louis Vuitton headquarters a lot for the first four years or so, so I could learn how brands were built,” he says, stroking his silver goatee. says. “The past 20 years have gone by in the blink of an eye.”
Since then, the 62-year-old has settled into the effortless swagger of the man who left his mark on the world. “Now that I’m older, I’m no longer shy about anything and I still have goals that I want to achieve in the future,” he says. Although he was a well-known artist when he was selected by Marc Jacobs to collaborate with Louis Vuitton, he was far from the prolific icon he is today. “I used to be embarrassed to attend a Louis Vuitton runway show in shabby clothes, but now I don’t care about that at all!” he laughs.
His new collaboration is a reprint of his first collaboration, featuring familiar flowers, pandas, and his “Planet 66 Creatures” (cute characters that look like leaves in their hair) in a rainbow of white and black colors. There are monogrammed bags, accessories, and even splatters. skateboard. Pochette, Speedy, card holder and more are back with updated hardware and ribbon-shaped bag charms. Of course, there are also bags for pets. Nothing costs $2,000 more than a portable Chihuahua.
Despite the hype surrounding the collection, Murakami says he never originally intended it to be this large. What’s the secret ingredient? An actress who is a Louis Vuitton ambassador will be the face of an upcoming collaboration campaign. “I was planning on doing a fairly small capsule collection, but when Zendaya showed up, I thought it was amazing!” Murakami says. “Her powers are completely different and the energy she has is on another level.”
